smith



w. H. SMITH.'

Improvement in Devices fqr Igniting Gas and other Lights; No 115,373 Patented May 30,1871.

.MWTLLJARD SMITH, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

\ yimPRoveMENt-m DEVICES FOR lean-me G AND OTHER LIGHTS.

Specificaticnfcrming part of Letters Patent No. 115,273, dated- May 30, 1871.

. Be itknownthatl,WI ARD H. SMrrHpof the city, county,and State of New York, have madecert-"ainnewand usefulflmprovements in Devices for Igniting Gas and other Lights;

:andwI doherebydeclare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

Figurel represents aside elevation of my improvements in the device shown as applied to a gas-burner; Fig. -2, acentral vertical sectionof. thesame on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3

is an endelevation; Fig. 4, a top view; and

Fig. 5 a horizontal section of the same.

Similar. letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several figures.

In: devices heretofore used for this purpose the friction-"fuse is frequently incapable of service,it beingliable to be damaged by damp air, which makes it useless, and in dry weather on account of igniting by handling the same, which makes it an unsafe article to be left in buildings. The devices now in use and employed for operating the match or fuse are complicated and expensive, and have no provision for extinguishing the match to prevent its undue consumption and the throwing oif of a continuous stream of smoke, which creates a disagreeable smell in theroom, and the feed mo- 9 tion employedis capable of igniting the fuse before desired. Consequently the devices heretofore used have failed to provide the practical effect and advantage to the public.

. The invention consists in constructing the feeding device by-means of employment of a n sliding match-holder operated by means of avertical screw, whereby. the feeding device is greatly simplified and made to operate more certain, and the match is less liable to be ignited or damaged in the feeding device; and

. the samedevicecanbe manufactured for less expense than the devices heretofore known;

and it also consists in covering the match or fuse with gutta-percha or rubber, whicha prevents it from becoming unserviceable by iny fluence of damp air orwet weather, and also provides against ignition unless a great frictionis applied. "By these means the match may be of great service and capable of seavoyage. 1 i

I r 2 To enable others skilled iiithe art to make and use-my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Arepresents a vertical oblong tube, of which the one side or portion B is made to inclose loosely the fuse or match 0, while the other side or portion D is made to guide and fit around the vertical feed-screw E. The central portion F is made with a parallel space, G, between the screw E and fuse, in which space I employ a sliding screw-nut, H, which is ataccording to the direction in which the screw 1 is rotated. After the said nut H has been elevated to the top portion of the tube B the same can be removed through an aperture in that portion of the tube, and is refurnished with a fuse and inserted on the bottom end of said tube by means of the door or cap z. The aperture y is closedwhile the instrument is in use. K represents a vertical ring or eye-piece, which may form part, but I prefer to hinge it, as shown, with the portion B, from which it projects, and serves for holding and securing the tube A upon the burner of the gaslight. The said ring is made open on its periphery, as shown in El 3 and 4, in order to 'be elastic and more readily fit the said burner. The object in hinging it to the part B is to allow it to drop away from the light after its use. The top endof the tube A is made with a flat face, and the screw E has its bearings in the said top end below the said face, while the extreme upper end of the screw E projects above the said face, and upon it is riveted or otherwise secured a fiat cross-plate, L,which serves' with the one end M for striking and rubbing and thereby igniting the fuse in passing the discharge-opening N of the fuse, while the other end M is made to cover the said opening for extinguishing the fuse. The lower end of the screw is provided with a circular head for taking hold of the screw in turning it. In order to prevent the operator from turning the feed-screw in the wrong directionI employ a simple vertical wire spring, 0, which is attached on the outside of the lower part of the tube A. It lies flat against the side of said tube, and projects somewhat above the said top face, so that, in turning the screw in proper direction for feeding the fuse upward, the cross-piece in passing the said spring will force the spring to yield to one side, while in passing in opposite direction the said spring stops against the top portion of the tube A and prevents the turning of the screw, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. When the fuse has been consumed entirely, and another is supplied by inserting it through the lower opening of the tube B, the holder of the fuse is thereby discharged on the upper side through a side opening, 51:, and is also inserted through the bottom opening and placed with the fuse for proper operation. In order to effect superior friction of the end M upon the fuse I make the bottom and end face of that portion of the end M rubbing the fuse inclined or rounded, and with sharp teeth, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4..

From the foregoing it will be perceived that by means of covering the fuse or match with rubber or gutta-percha the same is made sufficiently water-proof and capable for service in damp air, and is protected sufficiently for preventing it becoming damaged by exportation or sea-voyage, and prevented from spontaneous combustion; and that the igniting device herein shown is more simple and positive in its operation, and may be manufactured at less expense than those heretofore used.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. The coating of friction-fuse or match with gutta-percha or rubber, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. The employment of the sliding fuse-holder and nut H, in combination with the feed-screw E, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The combination of the tube A, feedscrew E, cross-plate L, the fuse-holder J, with elastic ring or eye K, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

W. H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

Y. BERMOND, JOHN (3. FosTER, Jr. 

